O·pen door. (a) Open or free admission to all; hospitable welcome; free opportunity.
She of the open soul and open door,
With room about her hearth for all mankind. --Lowell.
(b) In modern diplomacy, opportunity for political and commercial intercourse open to all upon equal terms, esp. with reference to a nation whose policy is wholly or partially fixed by nations foreign to itself, or to territory newly acquired by a conquering nation. In this sense, often used adjectively, as, open-door system, open-door policy, etc.
The steps taken by Britain to maintain the open door have so far proved to be perfectly futile. --A. R. Colquhoun.
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open door
n 1: the policy of granting equal trade opportunities to all
countries [syn: open-door policy]
2: freedom of access; "he maintained an open door for all
employees"